Being the first generation in my family to graduate college, I am super grateful to have had both my parents migrate from underprivileged communities in Russia to give us a better life. I am currently a 3rd year at the New England College of Optometry and was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in my 2nd year of Optometry School during the finals week of my fall semester. No one in my family has T1D, so I had no knowledge of how to manage it, let alone the time to figure it all out. With school becoming increasingly demanding, I made the scary but necessary decision to put my health first at the beginning of my 3rd year. I decided to take medical leave for a year, and it was the best decision I could have made for myself. I finally had the time to attend my endocrinology appointments, diabetes education, and nutrition classes to learn how to properly manage the disease. It took this life-altering situation to help me find my strength again, and I am so thankful for it. I have my ups and downs, but I can proudly say I have made strides in my diabetic journey and plan to continue improving and persevering past any obstacles that stand in my way. I am pleased to say I am re-enrolled as a student and am continuing to learn and grow every day. Although this diagnosis has been challenging, I am thankful and excited to be able to offer some extra love, empathy, and understanding when treating patients living with Diabetes now as a student and future Doctor of Optometry.